The State of Utah and local towns have laws regulating ATV use. These
laws are intended to provide for the orderly and safe use of ATV's while
protecting people, property, and the environment. Please follow them so
the privilege of ATVing will not be revoked by the State or the Federal
agencies primarily responsible for managing the Paiute ATV Trail.
Before you arrive you need to know that ATV's owned by residents of Utah
must be registered yearly with the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.
Non-residents must purchase Utah's non-resident registration permit to ride
on public lands in Utah (unless they're currently registered in a state
that offers reciprocity with Utah). A list of states that we reciprocate
with are listed on Utah State Park's website. There are a number of locations
throughout Utah (and even in a few cities just outside of Utah) that can
sell these permits. That information can be found at their website.
You may operate your ATV on public lands or roads that are either signed
or otherwise designated as open by the managing agency. The Fishlake National
Forest publishes a travel map which designates Forest areas that are open,
restricted, or closed to motorized travel. Copies of the most recent edition
of this map can be obtained from the Forest at the address listed below.
For private land, you must obtain the owner's permission before leaving
any right-of-way.
The State of Utah recognizes three age classes with respect to driving
ATV's. No one under eight years old may operate an ATV on public roads,
trails, or lands. Drivers ages eight through sixteen years old must possess
an OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) education certificate issued by the Utah Division
of Parks and Recreation. Drivers 18 and under must wear a helmet and be
accompanied and supervised by an adult driving an ATV. ATV drivers
sixteen and older must possess a valid drivers license or an OHV education
certificate.
Education certificates are issued to anyone eight years or older who
completes the Utah Department of Parks and Recreation OHV education course.
The Division of Parks and Recreation can be contacted at the locations listed
below. This course is highly recommended for anyone, regardless of age,
wishing to ride an ATV. It will show you the capabilities and limitations
of your machine and will teach the importance of "treading lightly".
Towns around the Paiute ATV Trail are unique in that they have written
ordinances permitting ATV travel on their streets so recreationists can
access needed supplies and services. These ordinances designate which streets
are open to ATV travel and under what conditions. Streets open to ATV's
are signed in the towns, and are shown on the Paiute ATV Trail map published
by Trails Illustrated for the Fishlake Discovery Association. The towns
also allow travel on other streets when the rider is going directly to a
motel, service station, restaurant, or residence.
In towns the speed limit for ATV's is 10 miles per hour All drivers and
passengers 18 and under must wear helmets. ATV's must be equipped with mufflers
to prevent sparks which might start fires and to prevent the disturbance
of others. ATV's must stop at all stop and yield signs and must travel with
headlights on. Operators must travel on the right-hand side of the road,
on the pavement in single file.